<big><b>Michael Robinson on his return to the Seahawks</b></big>
At the very end of August, when the Seahawks made their final roster cuts, Seattle fans were shocked and dismayed when veteran and team captain <a href="http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/2013/08/30/michael-robinson-tweet-suggests-hes-been-cut-by-seahawks/">Michael Robinson was cut</a>. But his relatively high salary and a preseason illness -- one that turned out to be quite serious -- made him too much of a risk for the Seahawks, who were already happy with fullback Derrick Coleman and rookie Spencer Ware. With both Coleman and Ware now out with injuries, and with Robinson healthy again after nearly two months, Seattle called him up and <a href="http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/2013/10/22/fan-favorite-michael-robinson-says-he-has-resigned-with-seahawks/">re-signed him to the team Tuesday</a>.
But as Robinson revealed in his homecoming press conference, he was never quite gone -- his former teammates in Seattle called him often, he watched every snap of every Seahawks game, and GM John Schneider kept him on speed-dial. Click through the gallery to read what Robinson had to say Tuesday about returning to Seattle's locker room, his current health, what he's been doing for seven weeks, how he's seen the Hawks grow, and whether he'll be restarting the "Real Rob Report." less

<big><b>Michael Robinson on his return to the Seahawks</b></big>
At the very end of August, when the Seahawks made their final roster cuts, Seattle fans were shocked and dismayed when veteran and team ... more

Photo: Framegrab / Seahawks.com

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<b>Q: Welcome back, Mike. How does it feel?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "Oh man, it feels awesome, man. You miss Sundays, you really do. I almost became one of you guys (the press), you know what I mean? I experimented a little bit. But it's great to be back, great to be back in the building and get back to work, more than anything." less

<b>Q: Welcome back, Mike. How does it feel?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "Oh man, it feels awesome, man. You miss Sundays, you really do. I almost became one of you guys (the press), you know what I mean? I experimented ... more

Photo: John Froschauer / Associated Press

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<b>Q: When fullback Derrick Coleman </b>(pictured)<b> went down Thursday at Arizona, what were you thinking and were you expecting a call from the Seahawks?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "I kinda figured – I watched every game, obviously, and I live in Arizona so I was in Arizona during the game – and I kinda watched what happened and I saw what happened to Derrick. And my initial reaction was to text him, like, 'Dude, hit me back, making sure you're alright.' And then the next day I got a text from John (Schneider) and he asked me how I feel and am I ready to come in." less

<b>Q: When fullback Derrick Coleman </b>(pictured)<b> went down Thursday at Arizona, what were you thinking and were you expecting a call from the Seahawks?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "I kinda figured – I watched ... more

Photo: Elaine Thompson / Associated Press

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<b>Q: So, how are you feeling?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "I feel great, man. Actually, I've been normal as far as blood results and all that stuff for the last month and a half. Been feeling really good, other than not playing. But health-wise I'm feeling really, really good -- all my energy's back, weight's back, everything's good." less

<b>Q: So, how are you feeling?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "I feel great, man. Actually, I've been normal as far as blood results and all that stuff for the last month and a half. Been feeling really good, other than ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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<b>Q: Did you miss playing football?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "My wife was telling me all the time I started getting real aggressive wrestling with the kids (pictured: son Burton, now age 3). She was just like, 'Go put on a helmet and go run into some trees or something.' Yeah, I definitely missed it -- more than anything, just being around the guys, being around the guys in this locker room. We've got a lot of great character guys in that locker room and that's what you miss more than anything." less

<b>Q: Did you miss playing football?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "My wife was telling me all the time I started getting real aggressive wrestling with the kids (pictured: son Burton, now age 3). She was just like, 'Go ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

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<b>Q: What was it like to walk back into the locker room Tuesday?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "It just felt good to be back in the locker room around everybody, see people's faces. And, you know, most of the team was calling me anyway; each week I would talk to about 80 percent of the guys anyway. I mean, Marshawn (Lynch), we talked every day. So it just felt good being back in the locker room."
<b>Q: If you're called upon to play Monday, are you ready?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "Yeah! Let's come get some!" less

<b>Q: What was it like to walk back into the locker room Tuesday?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "It just felt good to be back in the locker room around everybody, see people's faces. And, you know, most of the team was ... more

Photo: Tom Szczerbowski / Getty Images

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<b>Q: Did you get a sense if Marshawn Lynch missed you?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "Well, getting the calls from him every day, you know what I mean? And just hearing him -- you can hear it in his voice. We're really good friends. Whether we play football together or not, we're really good friends; that's family. So I knew he missed me, as well as I missed everybody else, too." less

<b>Q: Did you get a sense if Marshawn Lynch missed you?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "Well, getting the calls from him every day, you know what I mean? And just hearing him -- you can hear it in his voice. We're really ... more

Photo: Ted S. Warren / Associated Press

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<b>Q: What did you see in the Seahawks as you watched them for the first seven weeks of the season?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "We've grown up, definitely, across the board. We've learned how to win on the road; we've learned how to take that excitement, that juice that we have here at C-Link, we've learned how to put that on the road now and win some nice games on the road. We've learned how to make the big plays in the clutch, you know what I mean, and finish games. And obviously we can rush the passer now. So, that's awesome -- it was awesome to see." less

<b>Q: What did you see in the Seahawks as you watched them for the first seven weeks of the season?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "We've grown up, definitely, across the board. We've learned how to win on the road; we've ... more

Photo: Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press

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<b>Q: Does that make it even more exciting to be back?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "I just want to be a part of it. You know, I'm not trying to come in and do anything spectacular or whatever, I just want to come in and be the aggressive, physical guy that I am and be a part of the team, and not try to do anything more." less

<b>Q: Does that make it even more exciting to be back?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "I just want to be a part of it. You know, I'm not trying to come in and do anything spectacular or whatever, I just want to come in and ... more

Photo: Al Bello / Getty Images

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<b>Q: Just how sick were you in August?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "It was bad, man. I didn't realize how bad it was until I was able to look back and reflect on it. We have great doctors at U-Dub -- the liver specialists, kidney specialists, blood guy -- they've been in constant contact with me, checking up on me, making sure I'm OK. Even times where I didn't always communicate back, they stayed on me, and I'm grateful for those guys." less

<b>Q: Just how sick were you in August?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "It was bad, man. I didn't realize how bad it was until I was able to look back and reflect on it. We have great doctors at U-Dub -- the liver ... more

Photo: Elaine Thompson / Associated Press

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<b>Q: What did the doctors tell you happened?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "I was taking a prescription drug, Indocin. It's an anti-inflammatory. You're supposed to take it two times a day and I was taking it as prescribed. But, I think I was dehydrated before the game, and you can't take those medicines and be dehydrated. And then I probably got sick at the same time; they just said it was the perfect storm. And I felt like I was just getting the flu, you know what I mean? And I come to find out it was real bad -- liver, kidneys almost failed. It was pretty bad."
<b>Q: How much weight did you lose?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "I got down to 212. I'm back up at 245 now." less

<b>Q: What did the doctors tell you happened?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "I was taking a prescription drug, Indocin. It's an anti-inflammatory. You're supposed to take it two times a day and I was taking it as ... more

Photo: John Froschauer / Associated Press

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<b>Q: How long did it take to gain back that weight?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "It took me -- ha, not long, trust me. It felt good to eat what I want, you know what I mean? But, about another two weeks after I felt normal for me to really, really get my weight back and really, really work out and train at weight and not feel light-headed, not feel any repercussions from it." less

<b>Q: How long did it take to gain back that weight?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "It took me -- ha, not long, trust me. It felt good to eat what I want, you know what I mean? But, about another two weeks after I felt ... more

Photo: Framegrab / Seahawks.com

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<b>Q: When did it all start?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "The Broncos game (Aug. 17), that morning, I woke up and I knew it was different, just something was different. You know, I kinda felt chills -- I felt like I was getting the flu, you know what I mean? And it wasn't even flu season, but I felt like I was. And the thing was, I had mentioned it to the doctors early in the day that I may be coming in this week getting fluids and stuff like that. And it just went south from there." less

<b>Q: When did it all start?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "The Broncos game (Aug. 17), that morning, I woke up and I knew it was different, just something was different. You know, I kinda felt chills -- I felt like I was ... more

Photo: Getty Images

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<b>Q: Did you have to go to the hospital?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "I went to the hospital two separate times. The first time I went, they really didn't know what was going on; they just kinda pumped me with fluids. And I come to find out, when I got readmitted a couple of days later, I shouldn't have even left the hospital. ... I stayed a few days. Pete (Carroll) came and stuck his head in there, and said 'what's up' and talked to me a while." less

<b>Q: Did you have to go to the hospital?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "I went to the hospital two separate times. The first time I went, they really didn't know what was going on; they just kinda pumped me with fluids. ... more

Photo: Matt Slocum / Associated Press

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<b>Q: What were you thinking then about your future with the team?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "I'm a realist, so I understood that I had two preseason games, I knew they drafted a guy, I knew they were high on Derrick, and I knew that I needed to be on the field to keep my job. I knew what my salary was, I know the business of this game, and I knew there was a big chance that I would be let go. And I was just hoping and praying for an opportunity to be able to come back and come to work." less

<b>Q: What were you thinking then about your future with the team?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "I'm a realist, so I understood that I had two preseason games, I knew they drafted a guy, I knew they were high on Derrick, ... more

Photo: Brian Bahr / Getty Images

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<b>Q: Did the Seahawks give you any indication about possibly returning when you got healthy?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "Pete and John did a great job communicating with me; they were very up-front. When they were cutting me, we were in there talking and they basically said: 'Mike, we know it's gonna come a part down the line when you're gonna be healthy and we're probably going to need you, and if the opportunity presents itself we're gonna come get you. You're part of the family, you're part of what actually helped us start this thing.' And it just felt really good to know that an organization feels that strongly about you." less

<b>Q: Did the Seahawks give you any indication about possibly returning when you got healthy?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "Pete and John did a great job communicating with me; they were very up-front. When they were ... more

Photo: Elaine Thompson / Associated Press

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<b>Q: Is it hard to deal with the realities of the business of football?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "I've had my opportunities on TV to say some stuff, you know what I mean? But that's just not me. You've been in this game eight years, playing in the National Football League -- if you think there's loyalty in this game, that's your fault. It's a business; you gotta understand that. I think if you had asked me that question five or six years ago, there would have been some personal -- you know, when I left San Francisco, I was upset, very upset. I felt like I was done wrong. Didn't really understand the business side of it then. But now, you just understand it and you move on from it." less

<b>Q: Is it hard to deal with the realities of the business of football?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "I've had my opportunities on TV to say some stuff, you know what I mean? But that's just not me. You've been in this ... more

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images

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<b>Q: And you visited with the Titans for a possible fullback job?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "I went to go see Tennessee; I was in very, very strong talks with Tennessee. And then (Titans quarterback) Jake (Locker) went down and they had to make some other roster moves and they weren't really thinking about a fullback then. Actually, me and (fellow job-hunting fullback) John Connor were on the same visit. And then New York called me, and I just didn't like the situation up there too much -- the Giants, they called and I just really didn't like the situation. And they went and signed John Connor and I remained in wait." less

<b>Q: And you visited with the Titans for a possible fullback job?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "I went to go see Tennessee; I was in very, very strong talks with Tennessee. And then (Titans quarterback) Jake (Locker) went ... more

Photo: Stephen Brashear / Associated Press

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<b>Q: Is it harder in today's NFL to be looking for work as a fullback?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "Yeah, it's a totally different game. It's just a totally different game. You know, teams don't even use fullbacks; they'll use a tight end and put him in at fullback. Sometimes I think with all the movement (of) quarterbacks these teams are going away from the fullback, because the fullback's more of a straight-line, power-runner guy. But, you know, there's still some spots out there for you, just a lot of times they don't make as much (money), so -- you know, I'm an eight-year vet, so my minimum is a lot more than some younger guys." less

<b>Q: Is it harder in today's NFL to be looking for work as a fullback?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "Yeah, it's a totally different game. It's just a totally different game. You know, teams don't even use fullbacks; ... more

Photo: Jonathan Ferrey / Getty Images

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<b>Q: How far are you from being in game shape?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "I've been working out; I've been working out pretty hard. They told me they're gonna watch my reps and see how I do. I'm gonna use this week to really try to get in my mode, come in and do some extra stuff, and see where it goes from there." less

<b>Q: How far are you from being in game shape?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "I've been working out; I've been working out pretty hard. They told me they're gonna watch my reps and see how I do. I'm gonna use this week ... more

Photo: Matt Slocum / Associated Press

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<b>Q: Seahawks linebacker Greg Scruggs, who is out for the season on the PUP reserve, has been doing his own version of the "Real Rob Report" in your absence. Now that you're back, will your YouTube show also return?</b>
<b>MR:</b> "Greg's great, man; Greg was chosen for a reason. He has great personality. I thought about some guys that were on the active roster, but I didn't want anything to get in the way with football business. I don't know if we're going to have that back -- you know, me and Pete are still talking about that -- I don't want there to be any distractions to the team. So we'll see; we'll see what happens." less

<b>Q: Seahawks linebacker Greg Scruggs, who is out for the season on the PUP reserve, has been doing his own version of the "Real Rob Report" in your absence. Now that you're back, will your YouTube show also ... more

Photo: Screenshot / YouTube.com

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Michael Robinson: 'It feels awesome' to be back in Seattle

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